Paige Zhang is fascinated by people’s stories and, as a fourth-year medical student, feels fortunate to be working in a field where she can frequently connect with other human beings. “People often need health care when they’re in pain, or suffering, or fearful,” she says. “We have the privilege to work with them in these moments.”

Zhang is a recent winner of the Dr. Murray and Dr. Roslyn Herst Award, established in 2012 under U of T’s Boundless Promise Matching Program to enhance financial aid for students. Boundless Promise matches the annual payout on donations of $25,000 or more in support of needs-based awards at the university, thus doubling the impact of the donation. For students such as Zhang, this additional help can make a big difference. “It means that I can focus on my studies and not the financial stresses of pursuing an education,” she says.

As part of the Boundless expansion, U of T is extending the Boundless Promise Matching Program until the end of the campaign. To be eligible for the match, new awards must support full-time undergraduate students who are Canadian residents.

Congratulations to the four poetry finalists! We invite you to read them all and vote on your favourite. Our judging panel will choose the grand prize winner, though. Short story finalists will be announced in September.